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BFreelancer.com FAQ
General
What is BFreelancer?
BFreelancer is a Global Services Marketplace rapidly growing in popularity around the world. Our system accelerates your time to market and provides your business with key competitive advantages. When you use BFreelancer you are stretching your budget and saving as much as 60% over traditional outsourcing.
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Does BFreelancer offer an affiliate program to earn extra revenue?
If you add the BFreelancer affiliate link to your Web site, you can earn up to $57.24 if someone becomes a premium member from that link. By becoming a premium affiliate, instead of the 30% commission you will earn 60%. learn more
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Can I report violations of BFreelancer terms?
BFreelancer has a form you can fill out to give the details of a violation of our terms. You can use this form here to file a report of any user violating BFreelancer terms.
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How can I contact BFreelancer?
You can use the BFreelancer contact form to make contact with a member of the BFreelancer staff. Many of the answers to your questions will be found in the FAQ.
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Software Buyers
How does BFreelancer work for Software Buyers?
After signing up, create a project and provide all the necessary details. Software coders will then be able to start bidding on your project. BFreelancer is very similar in nature to an auction, but there is no mandatory end date and you choose the winning bid yourself. Once you have chosen a programmer they will begin work on your project. You no longer need to spend time and money searching for a talented professional because professionals from all over the world will be competing for your business, PLUS you also take advantage of our secure escrow payment system that allows buyers to secure their money with BFreelancer and make sure the project is completed to the buyer’s satisfaction before releasing the payment.
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Why should I use BFreelancer for my projects?
Using BFreelancer will save you time and money. Coders will come to you wanting to bid on your projects, you do not have to search the Internet or the classified ads hoping to find the right person for the job. It is your choice who you use to complete the project.
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What is the cost to BFreelancer Buyers?
No Commission will be charged if you are a Golden member. If you’re not a premium member, a flat fee of $3 will be charged when you select a winning bid.
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Example: If you chose a software coder who bid $2000 on your project and you are a premium member, no fees will be taken. If you are not a premium member, $3 will be deducted from your account.
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How do I communicate with the coder?
You can send a private message to a specific coder or post a message on the project's message board. When posting a private message, only you and the intended coder can read it.
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How can I send a private message?
When in a project, click on the ‘pm’ button near the username you want to communicate with. This will open a new window allowing you to send a message to that particular user.
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Where can I find the message board?
When in a project, just above the coder bids, click on the ‘Message Board’ link, a new window will open enabling you to post a message for others to read.
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How do I change my account password?
After logging into your account, click on the ‘Modify Login Info’ link. This will take you to a separate screen where you will enter your new password. Ensure that you retype the password in the appropriate box and then click the ‘Save new password’ key at the bottom of the screen.
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Software Buyers - Payments
How do I add money to my account?
Money can be added by logging into ‘My Account’, ‘Payment Transactions’ and then the ‘Deposit Money’ link. Money can be deposited via MoneyBookers, PayPal, E-Gold and Credit Card.
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Can I withdraw money from my account?
Yes, money can be withdrawn when you are logged into your account. Click on the ‘Payment Transactions’ link and then the ‘Withdraw Money’ link. You can withdraw the money via PayPal, MoneyBookers, EcoCard, E-Gold, E-Bullion Gold, Pecunix or Wire Transfer.
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Can money be transferred between users without a project or to another account that I have?
No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for completed projects on BFreelancer.
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Is there a fee to transfer money to another BFreelancer account?
No, there is no transfer fee when sending payment to another BFreelancer account.
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What if I accidentally transferred the wrong amount of money or transferred the money to the wrong account?
In either situation, you would have to contact us and explain the situation. In the case of transferring money to the wrong account, confirmation would have to be obtained by the receiving coder as well.
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What is the minimum amount I can transfer to a coders account?
The minimum amount that you can transfer to a coders account is $20.00
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How does the payment system for the escrow system work?
Buyers can protect their investment with the escrow account by ensuring a project is completed and on time. The funds are released from the escrow account upon completion of the project. Should the project end amicably without the work being completed, it’s possible to cancel the escrow payment and return automatically the money from the escrow account to the buyer’s account. For more information, go the following url: http://www.bfreelancer.com/escrow.php
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When does the project fee have to be paid?
The project fee is automatically taken out of your account even if you have a negative balance. Money must be deposited as soon as possible to cover that negative balance. If your balance is bellow zero for more than 30 days, your account will be frozen. Keep in mind that there are no commissions or fees charged when you become a Golden member.
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Software Buyers - Projects
How do I open a new project?
On the BFreelancer header, click on the ‘Post Project’ link which will take you to the New Project page. Select up to three job types and then give a project description. Fill in the rest of the fields and then click on ‘Submit Project’.
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How do I award, close or extend my project?
Login to your account, click on the ‘Buyer Activity’ link and choose the applicable option. It will take you to the corresponding screen where you can make changes or award a coder the project.
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Why must I fill in the ‘Days open for bidding’ field?
The coders need to know how long they have before the bidding closes on your project. This gives everyone a guideline to work within, however, you can extend the bidding for your project at any time.
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What is a budget range?
It is an option where you can specify what your planned budget for this particular project is. You fill in your minimum and maximum spending limit, and this gives the coder an idea of where to come in with a bid.
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Can I re-open a closed project?
No, once a project has been closed, there can be no more activity on it. You can open a new project or in special cases, contact us and we will evaluate the situation. In some cases we will re-open but this is only on a case by case situation.
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When my project is frozen, what does that mean?
It means that the project bidding date you chose has passed. At this time, you must choose a coder or extend the project.
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What if for whatever reason, the project fails? Can I get a refund on the project fee I was charged?
You must fill out a Project Cancellation Request. We will evaluate the situation and get back to you.
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Software Coders
How does the service work for software coders?
Software coders can view posted projects to decide which ones they are qualified to bid on. You can also provide buyers information about the type of work you can do. The buyer chooses the winning bid and if you are the chosen coder, you can begin the work, complete the job and get paid.
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What benefit do I get from using BFreelancer?
Finding customers can sometimes be difficult, especially if you are just starting out, or if it is traditionally a slow time of year. BFreelancer is advertised all across the Internet, attracting many potential customers, all of which could require your programming service. You’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain by joining BFreelancer.
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How much does it cost to join BFreelancer?
It's free to signup. A commission is charged by BFreelancer for each winning bid. The commission is 10% of the bid amount plus a fixed fee of $5. If you are a Golden member, the $5 transaction fee is not charged.
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Example: If you win a project worth $100 and you are a premium member, $10 will be deducted from your account. If you are not a premium member, you will be charged $15.
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How can I communicate with software buyers?
You can send a private message to the buyer or post a message on the project’s message board. When posting a private message, only you and the buyer can read it. If you want others to read it, use the message board.
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How do I stop e-mail notifications for new projects?
You can login to your account and go to the “Edit Account Info” link. If the box for receiving e-mail notifications is checked, uncheck that box to no longer receive the notifications.
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If a project fails, can I get a refund for the project fee?
If a project was cancelled, and you have been charged the commission for a project, you can use the form available in the buyer activity area to submit a project cancellation request. You may be eligible for a refund.
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What is the message board and where can I find it?
The message board is a forum to post general questions for a buyer on a certain project. These messages can be viewed by other coders. You can find it by viewing a project and clicking on the ‘Message Board’ text link.
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What is a private message and how can I send one?
We have created a direct line between a buyer and coder to discuss a project in more detail. Private messages cannot be seen by other coders. You can send a private message by viewing a project and clicking on “Private message to (buyer username)".
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Can I change my account password?
Yes, you can at any time. Login to your account and go to the “Modify Login Info” and immediately it will give you the option of changing your password.
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Software Coders - Receiving Payment
How does the escrow account payment system work?
You can ask a software buyer to place the payment for your work into an escrow account, in trust with BFreelancer. This is a great way to secure payment for the work you provide to a buyer. For more information, go the following url: http://www.bfreelancer.com/escrow.php.
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How much is the commission for each project?
The commission is 10% of the bid amount plus a fixed fee of $5. If you are a premium user, you do not pay the $5 transaction fee.
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Do I need money in my account?
Once you have been chosen as the coder for a posted project, you will need to have money in your account to pay for the commission. If you have a negative balance in your account for 30 days your account will be frozen. At this point you will not be able to place bids on any of the posted projects.
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How can I add money to my account?
Go to “My Account” area, click on the “Payment Transactions” link and you will have the option of depositing money. Money can be deposited via Credit Card, PayPal, E-Gold or MoneyBookers.
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Can I withdraw money from my account?
Of course. Go to the “My Account” area, click on the “Withdraw Money” link in the "Payment Transactions" section and select the payment method, i.e. PayPal, E-Gold, MoneyBookers, EcoCard, Pecunix, E-Bullion Gold or Wire Transfer. Before submitting your withdraw request make sure you have read the information on the corresponding costs. Also note that you cannot withdraw less than $100 at a time.
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Can money be transferred between users without a project?
Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for completed projects on BFreelancer.
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Can I receive a partial refund on the commission charge if I don’t invoice the buyer the entire bid amount?
No. Because BFreelancer has already archived your project once it’s awarded, and you will be charged based on that amount.
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When do you collect the project fee?
Funds will be deducted from your BFreelancer account to cover the commission fee, regardless of the balance at the time. You can make a deposit to cover the fee at a later date. Please note: If your account balance remains below zero for 30 days your account will be frozen.
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How long does it take to receive a withdrawal from BFreelancer?
If you are a premium member, you will receive payment within 5 business days. It could be up to 20 business days if you are not a Golden account holder.
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Software Coders - Bidding on Projects
How do I place a bid on a project?
When viewing a project click on the “Place Bid” link to take you to the bid page. Enter the bid amount in USD, provide an estimated time of completion and add the details of your bid (optional). When you place a bid, you can check the box that informs you if a lower bid is placed on a project.
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Can I update a bid I have placed on a project?
Just submit a new bid and the old one will automatically be deleted
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Can I cancel a bid I have placed?
Yes. In the “My Account” area, click on “Provider Activity” and then click on the text link called “Retract your bid.”
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What if I have a question about a posted project?
If you have questions for a buyer that are going to help clarify a project, post a message on the public or private message board. You can access these boards by viewing a specific project and then clicking on one of the text links.
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I can’t find the “Place Bid” link to bid on a project.
Each project has a posted deadline, and once the bidding has ended the “Place Bid” link will not appear when you go to view a project.
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What is “Bid for the Total Project”?
When you are placing a bid, make sure it is for the entire project. Do not quote an hourly rate. If you would like, to clarify for a buyer how you arrived at your project cost, you can post details in the bid details box on the bid screen.
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Can I estimate the cost of a project when bidding?
You shouldn’t estimate the cost of a project and post it as a bid. You could end up bidding yourself too high, or on the other end, you could put in a lot of work and not be receiving adequate compensation. When you place a bid, you enter into a legal binding contract and you would be required to perform the work for the amount you have bid. If you require more information to make an accurate bid, you can use the public and private message boards.
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Can I post contact information?
Allowing the direct contact between buyers and sellers other than through the message boards could allow members to bypass the BFreelancer system and in turn avoid the commission fees. Our charges are a fair price to bring software buyers and coders together. We do not allow the exchange of contact information.
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